Headache in the nape: causes and symptoms

People who are faced with a headache in the occipital part, describe its action as if something is pressing, unraveling the back of the head. Painful sensations are accompanied by burning, pulsation, crawling. Such manifestations are chronic, periodic or acute, can have different intensity.

Stress and fatigue

The most common headache in the back of the head is due to excessive tension. If a person for a long time is in the same position without movements of the neck and head, there is a muscular spasm of the occipital region. Unpleasant sensations can arise with prolonged hard work at the computer. The appearance of a headache with tension is affected by a decreased emotional background and manifestations of depression.

In addition, tense, spasmodic muscles of the occiput are a source of terrible sensations, they also affect the tendon aponeurosis of the head, to which the muscles of the temples and forehead are attached. And the headache from the nape of the neck extends to the temporal part, the forehead. As a result, the entire skull, as it were squeezed by a cast-iron ring.

Headache in the occiput with tension always arises from two sides. It can be in anyone, with the syndrome expressed very much, and the emergence of an attack is provoked by a prolonged immobility of the cervical spine and a prolonged reduced emotional background.

Cervical osteochondrosis and migraine

Similar to the mechanism of appearance, a headache in the occiput occurs with cervical osteochondrosis. This is due to squeezing the spinal roots, as well as limited mobility of the cervical spine. With this osteochondrosis, any movement in the affected part of the spine provokes pain. The diagnosis of the disease is confirmed by MRI or radiography, and is usually found in older people.

Predecessors of pain in migraine are prodrome and aura. At the first component of the attack, the general state of health worsens, the emotional background changes. In most cases, migraine is preceded by an aura, which consists of temporary disorders of sensitivity, vision, and motor function. Along with pain, which is almost always one-sided, fear of sounds and light arises, nausea, vomiting, unpleasant touch, a feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, chills and other signs.

If migraine has a headache in the nape, treatment is possible with paracetamol, as well as drugs that have ergotamine and serotonin receptor agonists. After a dream, the attack goes away.

High pressure

Elderly people and those who are often in stressful situations, may experience pain in the occiput with increased blood pressure. They have oppressive, bursting sensations, possibly a temporary visual impairment, the appearance of shivers, swaddling in front of the eyes. Treatment is performed after measuring the pressure and in the event that it is accurately determined that it is the cause of headache. In this case, antihypertensive drugs are prescribed .

Other reasons

A sudden severe headache in the nape, which extends to the rest of the head and is accompanied by stiff neck and neck muscles, may become a symptom of subarachnoid hemorrhage. This is a type of stroke, which requires immediate hospitalization.

Headache in the back of the head can result from craniocerebral injuries or their complications: the onset of cysts or hematomas that put pressure on the membranes of the brain.

The cause of painful manifestations in the occipital localization against the background of fever may be meningitis.

If the headache is a constant companion, then it is necessary to see the doctor.